Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #41

[otto]

There are several posts that reference the 1918 pandemic as Spanish flu. This is not a correct term.

Spain, like Switzerland, was neutral in WWI, and its media had no qualms about covering the contagious outbreak weakening its population, creating the false impression that this was a Spanish disease.
Why Does Spain Get Blamed for the 1918 Flu Pandemic?

It's not a Spanish virus any more than covid is a Chinese virus. There is speculation that 1918 Pandemic started in US with soldiers burning manure, as many were sick within days of a large burn. They then deployed to Europe for WW1 and spread the virus far and wide.

 

[KALI]

Lol. I heard a radio host say they're calling it Covit-19, because we're all going to gain 19 pounds before this is over... Tim Conway, kfi640 am, Los Angeles, Ca

I’m sure there are millions in the same boat. By the time this is all over, “Corona Bod” will be a thing.

 

[10ofRods]

I have heard it can survive for 72 hrs on surfaces. In a later post I did mention that we cook them in boiling water so that should kill any germs but I guess some people could use them raw.

Yeah, I wouldn't be eating raw oats. And, in fact, I think I bought my last fresh green vegetables for a while (including the kind in bags). If it's heated, though, foods are fairly safe.

A lot of things are making me tear up lately. I probably need one massive cry. Instead, it’s trickling out here and there a bit at a time.

Me too, although until you put it into words, I couldn't quite describe it. We watched The Sound of Music with granddaughter (5) today and I cried at so many points. I was sobbing when the family left Austria, their beautiful, ideal home. I realized I'm crying because life did not turn out to be as wondrous and beautiful as it was, when I was 5.

I fear for the mental health of our children and I think it's probably time that the 20-somethings and the 30-somethings take on the fixing of the world situation. The ones who still live at home, cannot afford to pay their parents' mortgage, should they die...are legion. It's SO many 20-somethings. And then I cry because to me, they are still so young, but seriously, they need to be prepared to be on their own.

To navigate the crazy (nearly worthless) system of social services we have in the US. With climate change, weather events, viruses, incredible unemployment, etc., the younger ones are going to have to step up, just as my parents' generation did. And which, to a large extent, did my own generations (we went out and got enough education to increase the number of nurses, doctors, engineers, computer geniuses, etc). I don't know many people my age who haven't worked all their life and figured out how to rent a (communal) apartment...

I cry because I don't want to see more people become homeless when we know we have buildings they could live in.

 

[cass523]

If anyone is interested. Tonight at 9 pm EST ABC is airing another TV show

ABC to Air a Special 'America Rising' Edition of 20/20

As virus lockdowns sweep the globe, ABC News announced today that "20/20" will air its third live special in prime time anchored by David Muir on the outbreak. "America Rising: Fighting the Pandemic

A Special Edition of '20/20'" will highlight the extraordinary work by health care workers on the front lines, as well as communities, volunteers and celebrities who are all stepping up to help fight virus.

The program will also feature the latest reporting from chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton and ABC News' global network of correspondents.

"20/20" will include video diaries from those facing unemployment and struggling to make ends meet, who open up about what their lives are like now, including the difficulties of filing for unemployment.

"20/20" also features the harrowing stories of those infected with the contagious virus, including video warnings from young people who thought they were at low risk but are now facing serious health complications. "America Rising: Fighting the Pandemic - A Special Edition of '20/20'" airs Monday, March 30 (9:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv...ecial-America-Rising-Edition-of-2020-20200330

 

[zecats]

A garage probably gets hot, though, and that could account for damage to the gloves.

Actually our garage is a converted horse barn (from way before we purchased the property), and it has a second floor where the heat does rise. So, no it's pretty cool in there even on hot days.

To be fair, these are not medical gloves, so I was just making a weak point about how gloves could possibly expire.

 

[otto]

I'm getting really cynical but things like JACHO and regional university accreditations exist only to promote corporate consumerism and a certain kind of mass buying.

Gonna take a lot of time and public scrutiny to fix it. We older people are not going to be able to fix it alone (not implying you're old - but I guess I am).

Regional university accreditation is connected to OER and virtual learning - take the courses from the institution that you want and transfer credit to home institution for degree. It might be the way of the future, especially given the huge shift to virtual learning that resulted from the virus.

 

[MassGuy]

It's not a Spanish virus any more than covid is a Chinese virus. There is speculation that 1918 Pandemic started in US with soldiers burning manure, as many were sick within days of a large burn. They then deployed to Europe for WW1 and spread the virus far and wide.

Are you saying the virus didn’t originate in China?

 

[musicaljoke]

The majority of people in science majors are unchurched. They may still be believers, but they don't go to church. And right now, I think most doctors and nurses are too busy to convene a Zoom meeting (and there's no point in holding a big public meeting). If people in their congregations aren't using digital media for communication, they have no way of persuading anyone. Because they are very busy.

The rest of us have to now show common sense.

Well, I'm not sure that most science majors are unchurched, but maybe it is true that where those congregation infractions are happening, the people are less educated. It seems that in these parts the more education one has, the more likely they attend church. We often joke that it's safer to have a heart attack in church than at the hospital because the place is so full of Drs, nurses and EMS workers.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I am not a legal scholar, but it seems to me that Congress and Senate could mandate minimum levels of state-purchased medical supplies for declared emergencies, and then use federal employees (from more than one branch, say the CDC and the NIH) to monitor, make recommendations and to ensure the supplies are stocked. National Guard armories could be used for this, and make a database of what's in storage so that the public could know.

When supplies expire, serious study should be undertaken before they are destroyed or sent out of the country. We have had an obsession with "expiration" that is simply absent from the rest of the world and it is designed to sell more product. Instead of destroying ventilators to keep the prices up, there should be public interest in firms that manufacture basic supplies for the public good. In other words, we should not allow the so-called market to determine whether we have supplies or not.

Yes. I read that some expired masks were fine except for the elastic snapping. Elastic does have a shelf life but also can be replaced.

This is what I don't understand -- if there is a stockpile of 1.5 million masks and the elastic is out of date but the cloth part is ok, why not have people replace the elastic? Just like all the folks making cloth masks, some people would be thrilled to use their sewing skills to make the "expired" masks usable!

BBM - and on cruise ships for 17 days apparently. I really wish they would tell us specifically what surfaces they found it on.

In the past few days (ie somewhere in the previous million posts lol) someone posted an explanation of how the virus found live after 17 days was not viable in the sense of being transmissible. It was something along the lines of DNA/RNA distinctions. Maybe @Henry2326 posted it? Can't recall but I remember feeling a tiny bit relieved after reading it.

My understanding bat to human is the first mutation. Then human to human. We have 8 different strains of the virus around the world. Would this mean it has mutated again?
The blue strain is the more aggressive then the red, would it mean a difference in mutations.

A great book to read on pandemic’s is “The Great Influenza”
The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History
By John M. Barry
I read this book a couple of years back. This book explains how easily a virus can spread and kill millions.

I have that book waiting for me in audiobook format on Overdrive. A few other books to finish first but I'm looking forward to reading it.

 

[Bravo]

Actually our garage is a converted horse barn (way before we purchased the property, and it has a second floor where the heat does rise. So, no it's pretty cool in there even on hot days.

To be fair, these are not medical gloves, so I was just making a weak point about how gloves could possibly expire.

No it's important. There are folks I know who don't have surgical gloves are using these. Then they disinfect them. It's an option.

 

[10ofRods]

DH found some white "rubber" gloves in the garage just the other day, the kind you might wear when washing dishes. I don't really know how long they were out there, but so far I had two of them rip right down the middle just from wearing them.

They do need to be stored at 65-80F (even 80F might be too hot), so there's that. Our garage gets to 110-115 in parts of the year, so we store our medical supplies in our coolest room.

My understanding bat to human is the first mutation. Then human to human. We have 8 different strains of the virus around the world. Would this mean it has mutated again?
The blue strain is the more aggressive then the red, would it mean a difference in mutations.

A great book to read on pandemic’s is “The Great Influenza”
The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History
By John M. Barry
I read this book a couple of years back. This book explains how easily a virus can spread and kill millions.

My understanding is that it was bat to pangolin to bat to human. This virus scooped up a really peculiar (and deadly shape) from the endangered pangolin, which should not be kept except by zookeepers and then only to assist that poor species. Not to let it be food for bats.

Within the virus that made it to humans, there's one big branch in the cladogram. I've seen them called "L" and "S" in one pre-print, and coded as blue and red or blue and gold. It's so new that even the names for the branches on the cladogram aren't agreed.

But yeah, once it got to us (in China), it mutated again. The scary thing is that it is mutating again and again, right now, as we're typing and reading.

 

[otto]

My understanding bat to human is the first mutation. Then human to human. We have 8 different strains of the virus around the world. Would this mean it has mutated again?
The blue strain is the more aggressive than the red, would it mean a difference in mutations.

A great book to read on pandemic’s is “The Great Influenza”
The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History
By John M. Barry
I read this book a couple of years back. This book explains how easily a virus can spread and kill millions.

This virus could be linked to pangolin. The bat infected the pangolin, and people ate pangolins in China because it makes them look rich. They got sick with the bat virus, and then it mutated to human -human transmission. Bats and pangolins are mammals.

The L typee blue strain is more virulent, but it had a head start in Wuhan - the first epicentre. US, the third epicentre has both L type and S type mutations. It might just be a matter of time before each strain appears to have equal strength. S type seems weaker for now.

H1 is L type
H2 is S type
H3 is L tyle
H4 is S type
H5 is L type
H6 is L type
H7 is L type
H8 is S type.

 

[Hatfield]

If anyone is interested. Tonight at 9 pm EST ABC is airing another TV show

ABC to Air a Special 'America Rising' Edition of 20/20

As virus lockdowns sweep the globe, ABC News announced today that "20/20" will air its third live special in prime time anchored by David Muir on the outbreak. "America Rising: Fighting the Pandemic

A Special Edition of '20/20'" will highlight the extraordinary work by health care workers on the front lines, as well as communities, volunteers and celebrities who are all stepping up to help fight virus.

The program will also feature the latest reporting from chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton and ABC News' global network of correspondents.

"20/20" will include video diaries from those facing unemployment and struggling to make ends meet, who open up about what their lives are like now, including the difficulties of filing for unemployment.

"20/20" also features the harrowing stories of those infected with the contagious virus, including video warnings from young people who thought they were at low risk but are now facing serious health complications. "America Rising: Fighting the Pandemic - A Special Edition of '20/20'" airs Monday, March 30 (9:00 - 10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv...ecial-America-Rising-Edition-of-2020-20200330

Thank you for letting us know. These particular 20/20 virus specials are actually getting really good now and worth watching. I saw one not long ago and they had good guests on and good information.

They have almost caught up to some of the information we share here regularly.

 

[zecats]

They do need to be stored at 65-80F (even 80F might be too hot), so there's that. Our garage gets to 110-115 in parts of the year, so we store our medical supplies in our coolest room.



My understanding is that it was bat to pangolin to bat to human. This virus scooped up a really peculiar (and deadly shape) from the endangered pangolin, which should not be kept except by zookeepers and then only to assist that poor species. Not to let it be food for bats.

Within the virus that made it to humans, there's one big branch in the cladogram. I've seen them called "L" and "S" in one pre-print, and coded as blue and red or blue and gold. It's so new that even the names for the branches on the cladogram aren't agreed.

But yeah, once it got to us (in China), it mutated again. The scary thing is that it is mutating again and again, right now, as we're typing and reading.

Seems to be mutating but not becoming more dangerous.

Coronavirus is mutating and now has 8 strains, doctors say | TribLIVE.com

The novel coronavirus is mutating, as viruses do, and eight strains are now making the rounds globally, medical experts say.

The good news is that the mutations are not more lethal, said Trevor Bedford, whose website, NextStrain.org, is tracking the virus’s genome from samples provided to him from throughout the world. But they are informative.

 

[Cool Cats]

DH found some white "rubber" gloves in the garage just the other day, the kind you might wear when washing dishes. I don't really know how long they were out there, but so far I had two of them rip right down the middle just from wearing them.

Yah. I get from wearing them but it is horse manure that they can sit for 3 years unused then expire.

They don't, really. Studies in other nations have shown that, definitively. IMO. I suppose that after 50 years, you might not want to use a mask. But our nation's expiry system marks them out of date as early as 3 years (there are warehouses all over the world that have had them stocked for that long - and we probably order new ones from there).

Lots and lots of hastily made, expensive decisions. It's been the American way. Not longterm. Just in the past 50 years. I blame greed, but I also know that some people are greedy. That's why we must have some form of checks and balances.

Ha! funny we might be buying some that are "expired."

I know, it is crazy. If you have any gloves, or N95 masks, you will see an expiration date! Same with hand sanitizer, the sanitizer wipes, it all has expiration dates, and I remember when we used to throw heaps of that stuff away. Before we had a CARF accreditation review. Crazy.

Some nit picky lady, dressed like a "Church Lady", "Well, now, what DO we have HERE?!" Hand sanitizer! 2 days out of DATE! Write Up!!!.".

Yah...Our overblown bureaucracy is one reason
why we are in this mess!


Nit-picky church lady not happy...EXPIRED!

 

[Bravo]

Seems to be mutating but not becoming more dangerous.

Coronavirus is mutating and now has 8 strains, doctors say | TribLIVE.com

The novel coronavirus is mutating, as viruses do, and eight strains are now making the rounds globally, medical experts say.

The good news is that the mutations are not more lethal, said Trevor Bedford, whose website, NextStrain.org, is tracking the virus’s genome from samples provided to him from throughout the world. But they are informative.

That was my understanding as to the mutation.

 

[otto]

Are you saying the virus didn’t originate in China?

There's speculation that the 1918 pandemic originated in the USA, yet it's called the Spanish flu. It's another pandemic, naming the place of origin has lost its flavour. This is the 2020 pandemic that originated in China.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

This virus could be linked to pangolin. The bat infected the pangolin, and people ate pangolins in China because it makes them look rich. They got sick with the bat virus, and then it mutated to human -human transmission. Bats and pangolins are mammals.

The L typee blue strain is more virulent, but it had a head start in Wuhan - the first epicentre. US, the third epicentre has both L type and S type mutations. It might just be a matter of time before each strain appears to have equal strength. S type seems weaker for now.

H1 is L type
H2 is S type
H3 is L tyle
H4 is S type
H5 is L type
H6 is L type
H7 is L type
H8 is S type.

View attachment 241065

Something else I've been wondering. I thought I had read where the virus gets into the lungs to do its damage, and that if the virus is on/in something that goes into the esophagus and into the stomach rather than following the trachea into the lungs, it can't survive the stomach acids.

This must not be true, though, given the description above of it getting to humans when they ate an infected animal. Plus the whole focus of not putting fingers in mouth, you'd think that wouldn't even be a concern if it wouldn't survive the stomach. Or else I'm missing something about how it moves about in a host.

 

[otto]

Seems to be mutating but not becoming more dangerous.

Coronavirus is mutating and now has 8 strains, doctors say | TribLIVE.com

The novel coronavirus is mutating, as viruses do, and eight strains are now making the rounds globally, medical experts say.

The good news is that the mutations are not more lethal, said Trevor Bedford, whose website, NextStrain.org, is tracking the virus’s genome from samples provided to him from throughout the world. But they are informative.

The first strain is quite lethal to some populations. If the L and S type get together often enough, we might see a new mutation in a second wave that is more deadly to other populations.

 

[Hatfield]

This virus could be linked to pangolin. The bat infected the pangolin, and people ate pangolins in China because it makes them look rich. They got sick with the bat virus, and then it mutated to human -human transmission. Bats and pangolins are mammals.

The L typee blue strain is more virulent, but it had a head start in Wuhan - the first epicentre. US, the third epicentre has both L type and S type mutations. It might just be a matter of time before each strain appears to have equal strength. S type seems weaker for now.

H1 is L type
H2 is S type
H3 is L tyle
H4 is S type
H5 is L type
H6 is L type
H7 is L type
H8 is S type.

View attachment 241065

That is interesting about the different strains.

I wonder for those certain cluster breakouts where like at the wedding in I think it was Austrailia or like at some of the churches where there were large clusters breaking out, I have to wonder if they can make a correlation that the most cluster breakouts were from the L type blue strain that was the more virulent.

If that becomes a fact then cities, hospitals, and certain places can be more concerned and take more actions when they see that strain hitting their community.